Skaf’s On York, a popular family-owned Lebanese restaurant in Highland Park, is facing criticism and being accused of gentrifying the neighborhood, after cutting down a decades-old Yew Pine tree outside of their restaurant on York Boulevard.
“Nothing like gentrifiers cutting down trees without permission,” wrote Mando Medina, the founder of the “anti-gentification” Instagram account @Highland_Park_Nela.
In an interview with L.A. TACO, Medina said that he believes that Skaf’s cut the tree down because it blocked their handpainted sign.
“I totally understand why they did it,” the born-and-raised Highland Park local said. “I never knew that business existed until they cut [the tree] down.”
In a written statement to L.A. TACO, Dan Halden, director of external relations for StreetsLA, confirmed that no permit was requested or issued for the work that happened outside of Skaf’s.